University of Massachusetts football team shuts out Rhode Island

KINGSTON, R.I. - Great weather conditions, even better performance by the University of Massachusetts football team.

Junior linebacker Josh Jennings intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown, and Rhode Island native Liam Coen was near perfect throwing the ball as the Minutemen routed the University of Rhode Island 49-0 Saturday before 7,201 at Meade Stadium.

UMass (6-3, 3-2 Colonial Athletic Association) had lost its last two games here, including last year's 12-6 overtime defeat in near-unplayable conditions created by the remnants of Hurricane Noel.

Weather wasn't a concern, neither was the triple-option offense run by URI coach Darren Rizzi's predecessor. The spread offense of the Rams allowed the UMass defense to do what it does best - blitz, blitz and blitz again.

"It was just one of those days were obviously we played our best game on defense," UMass coach Don Brown said. "On the other side of that coin, Liam Coen just continues to do what he does, and that's be efficient, run the offense."

"He was special today and I will add at less than 100 percent," Brown said, referring to the left shoulder injury Coen suffered two weeks ago against Richmond.

Both of Jennings' interceptions came when Rhode Island quarterback Derek Cassidy was under pressure from the blitz. The first came on the second snap of the game for the Rams. Jennings put UMass at the Rhode Island 29, setting up a two-yard touchdown run by Tony Nelson.

His second pick, and third of the season, occurred when Cassidy was pressured again. Jennings' 40-yard touchdown return helped send the Minutemen into the locker room with a 35-0 lead.

"The defensive line got a tremendous amount of pressure up front and the QB was running for his life and just tossed the ball up," Jennings said of his second interception. "My eyes got wide open and it fell in my hands and I took it for six."

UMass finished with a season-high eight sacks of Cassidy. The defense entered the contest with only 10 through the first eight games.

"When you get picked like that in the first period, you get a little gun shy," Rizzi said. "(Cassidy) forced some throws and he hasn't done that all year. We did some things that were uncharacteristic of our team. It was a great job by UMass and youo got to five them all the credit in the world."

Four plays into the second half, Coen's day was done. The senior quarterback hooked up with Victor Cruz (7 catches, 129 yards, 2 TDs) on a 35-yard scoring pass for a 42-0 lead with 13 minutes, 10 seconds left in the third quarter.

Coen finished 15 of 17 for 241 yards and three touchdowns. Both incompletions were dropped passes by wide receivers. His 88.2 passing percentage was bested only by Tim Day's 89.4 (17 for 19) against Delaware State in 2004.

"I think it was special not only for me but my teammates," Coen said. "For us to come down here last year, that was not what we wanted to accomplish as a team. That leaves a bitter taste in anybody's mouth.

"We were pretty psyched up for this game, but there was no screaming and yelling," Coen added. "It was big to come out the way we did."

For the second consecutive week the Minutemen emptied its bench for much of the second half. Korrey Davis scored from eight yards out for the final score.